Update at noon — The Flash Flood Watch has been cancelled.
Earlier: Arlington County is under a Flash Flood Watch through Monday evening.
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(Updated at 4:25 p.m.) Two years ago, torrential rain caused massive flash flooding in Arlington that washed away six pedestrian bridges.
Fast forward to today and two of the bridges that suffered the worst damage in the July 2019 storm — at Glencarlyn and Lubber Run parks — are set be replaced over the next year, and should be ready by the summer and fall of 2022, respectively.
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Update at 1:50 p.m. — In addition to the Flash Flood Watch, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was just issued for the area. Damaging winds, hail and torrential downpours are possible, forecasters say.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 11 PM. Main risk is damaging winds. pic.twitter.com/gVYqxvoZed
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Update at 6 p.m. — A damage path that cut through several Arlington neighborhoods was from an EF1 tornado, as just confirmed by the National Weather Service.
Earlier: The Arlington County Fire Department responded to “multiple calls for service” after a Tornado Warning was issued for parts of the county.
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Update at 4:15 p.m. — The earlier severe thunderstorm watch and warning have both been cancelled.
Update at 3:40 p.m. — Just over 1,400 Dominion customers in Arlington are without power, according to preliminary numbers from the power company’s website.
A cold front is likely to bring slow-moving thunderstorms and downpours to the D.C. area later today.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch, which takes effect at noon, cautioning of the possibility of 2-4 inches of rain falling in a short period of time. Such rainfall could cause flash flooding, as happened nearly two years ago.
Arlington County is planning to buy a vacant home in East Falls Church that was damaged in the July 2019 flash flooding.
The county intends to demolish the home at 6415 24th Street N. and use the property to make improvements “that would help alleviate or reduce the severity of localized flooding,” Stormwater Communications Manager Aileen Winquist tells ARLnow.
The County Board voted this weekend on an agreement with the City of Alexandria to dredge Four Mile Run in order to help mitigate flooding.
The neighboring jurisdictions will split the costs related to permitting, designing, construction, and dredging Four Mile Run, from around I-395 to the Potomac River.
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(Updated at 9:30 a.m.) Arlington and much of the D.C. area will be under a Flash Flood Watch on Christmas Eve.
A strong storm is expected to sweep through the area tomorrow afternoon and evening, bringing heavy rain and gusty wind. There may also be a few snowflakes near the end, as temperatures plummet, but no accumulation is expected locally.
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A number of crashes have been reported around Arlington as snow and sleet cause slick conditions on local roads.
Arlington Transit has suspended at least one route, and reported major delays on others, due to the conditions. VDOT, meanwhile, is calling for people to avoid driving until conditions improve.
Arlington Under Flood Watch — In addition to the Winter Weather Advisory that is in effect today for snow and ice, Arlington is also under a Flood Watch from 4 p.m. today and 7 a.m. Thursday. [Twitter]
Return-to-School Update — “Specific details and dates for future in-person learning transitions for students in Level 2 and Level 3 will be communicated to staff and families in early January. We continue to evaluate all metrics, and to focus on effective mitigation strategies to ensure the health and safety of staff and students.” [Arlington Public Schools]
(Updated at 2:30 p.m.) A project that could help the Westover area with its flooding problem is on the Arlington County Board agenda this weekend.
The Board on Saturday is slated to consider an agreement with Arlington Public Schools to build a stormwater detention vault under the athletic fields of the Reed Elementary School site in Westover.